(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) held a Minority Medical Cannabis Commission Hearing to gather information and recommendations from their community. Minorities testified on how consistently the door has been shut to their participation in the legislative process related to medical cannabis in Georgia. Not one Black doctor is on […]

(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, the Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis latest hearing erupted in debate between two Commission Members on whether Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the chemical components of cannabis, is harmful or beneficial. Dr. Yong Park, a neurologist with Georgia Regents University, and Dr. Cynthia Wetmore, Hematologist/Oncologist, with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, disagreed with […]

With additional reporting by Anna Simonton and Matthew Charles Cardinale. Photograph by Steve Eberhardt. (APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up the 2015 legislative session on Thursday, April 02, 2015. There were a few progressive highlights in the majority-Republican Legislature, including a solar power lease agreement bill; a limited medical cannabis bill; and more flexibility for MARTA […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee, after over four hours of testimony, finally passed an amended Senate version, similar to HB 1, with bipartisan support. The bill provides immunity from prosecution in the State of Georgia for patients who use cannabis oil, up to five percent THC in the oil, who received a doctor’s […]

(APN) ATLANTA — On Friday, March 13, 2015, the Georgia Senate passed SB 185, a medical cannabis research bill, which provides for clinical trials of cannabidiol-containing products to treat Georgia residents under 18 who have medication-resistant cases of epilepsy. It passed the full Senate by a vote of 54 yeas and one nay. The only nay was State […]

(APN) ATLANTA — Today, Wednesday, February 25, 2015, the Georgia House of Representatives today passed HB 1, or the Haleigh’s Hope Act, by a vote of 158-2. HB 1, sponsored by State Representative Allen Peake (R-Macon), would decriminalize the possession of certain medical cannabis oils in Georgia. “Today, we have passed a bill that will begin to reunite […]

(APN) ATLANTA — Georgia’s medical cannabis bill is headed to the State House floor. On February 23, 2015, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee unanimously passed HB 1, Haleigh’s Hope Act. “This is not an indication of a slippery slope but, in my mind, a compassionate reach to our citizens,” State Rep. Allen Peake (R – Macon), who authored […]

(APN) ATLANTA — At the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Hearing on Tuesday, February 03, 2015, State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) introduced HB 1, a revised version of last year Haleigh’s Hope. The bill offers immunity for those who have obtained the oil from a state where it is legal to manufacture and sell the cannabis oil, but does not […]

(APN) ATLANTA — Once again, Georgia will be among many U.S. states considering medicinal cannabis, or marijuana, in 2015. Up for consideration in Georgia are a total of three pre-filed bills: State Rep. Allen Peake’s (R-Macon) House Bill 1, and State Sen. Curt Thompson’s Senate Bill 7 and Senate Resolution 6. SB 7 and HB 1 are medicinal marijuana […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The first of five hearings of the Georgia Medical Cannabis Joint Study Committee was held at the Georgia State Capitol, on August 27, 2014. Three expert witnesses were invited to speak: Paige Figi and Matt Cook from Colorado; and James Bell, Executive Director of Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education (CARE), from Atlanta. […]

(APN) ATLANTA — After the stunning defeat of HB 885 in the Georgia Legislature this year, Gov. Deal announced at a news conference on April 10, 2014, that he plans to pursue clinical trials of cannabis oil at Georgia Regents University in Augusta. The latest plan is to involve GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, in the U.S. Food […]

(APN) ATLANTA — On April 20, 2012, several organizations that advocate for marijuana policy reform held their annual 420 rally at the Georgia Capitol. Co-sponsors of the event included Group Civil Disobedience (Non-violent); Georgia for Cannabis; Moms for Marijuana Georgia Chapter; Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University Chapters; Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana […]

(APN) ATLANTA — Spice. K-2. Head Trip. Spaz. Spiz. Mr. Miyagi’s Warpaint Zero. These are just a few of the many herbal incense products which have flooded Atlanta markets, as some citizens look for a way to get a legal buzz. The incense packages sell anywhere from ten dollars up to fifty dollars per gram. They are clearly marked […]